Display envelope



Feb. 27, 1968 M. H. SROGE 3,37%,731

DISPLAY ENVELOPE Filed Nov. 28, 1966 FIG.7.

mvmon Maxwell H. Sroge ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,370,781 DISPLAY ENVELOPE Maxwell H. Sroge, 377 Hawthorne, Glencoe, Ill. 60022 Filed Nov. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 597,304 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-71) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention comprises a windowed envelope for displaying photographs. The envelope includes means forming a portion of the envelope which readily cooperates with a storage album to enable mounting of the envelope in the album. The envelope includes a gummed flap which may be sealed for mailing the envelope with photographs therein, may be removed to permit mounting of the envelope in an album, or may be folded to form a brace where-by the envelope may be braced in an upright display position on a table or other flat surface.

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS The need for new and improved means for both displaying and storing photographic prints has long been recognized by those skilled in the art. However, none of the prior art endeavors in this field have enabled the use of a singular means for both mailing photographic prints and subsequently allowing convenient mounting of the prints for storage and display purposes.

It is, accordingly, a primary object of this invention to provide new and improved means for displaying photographic prints for viewing.

It is a further object of this invention to provide new and improved envelope structure.

Another object of this invention is the provision of new and improved envelope means for displaying the contents of said envelope and including means for mounting said envelope in a convenient manner for storage in a photographic album.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a new and improved closure flap means for an envelope for enabling closure closure of the envelope during mailing and also enabling subsequent mounting of the envelope in an album.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES Many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank employed to form the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment illustrating the envelope in an assembled, open condition;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the assembled envelope when used as an easel type display means;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the open envelope illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the envelope of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the envelope taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the envelope employed as a print display means.

The envelope comprising a preferred embodiment of this invention is formed of a single blank sheet 10 divided into plural areas by horizontal fold lines 12 and 13 and vertical fold lines 14 and 15 as shown in FIG. 1. The

3,379,781 Patented Feb. 27', 1968 ICC central area of sheet 10 between fold lines 12 and 13 comprises a rear panel 16 having plural viewing apertures or windows 18 which may be covered by a sheet of transparent plastic or the like 20'. First and second end flaps 22 and 24 extend from each end of the rear panel 16.

The portion of sheet 10 below fold line 13, as illustrated in FIG. 1, comprises a print-supporting panel 30. Areas 32 on each end of supporting panel 30 have a suitable adhesive applied thereto and slots 34 are provided for receiving the corners of a photographic print.

A closure flap 36 extends outwardly above fold line 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Area 38 of closure flap 36 has a suitable adhesive applied thereto. A horizontal tear line 40 extends across closure flap 36. Plural openings 41 are located between tear line 40 and fold line 12 as shown in FIG. 1. Openings 41 are spaced apart a given distance equal to the spacing-of retaining rings employed in an album or the like in which the envelope is to be mounted for display or storage.

Envelope blank 10 is converted into an envelope by first folding flaps 22 and 24 inwardly about fold lines 14 and 15, respectively, and then folding support panel 30 upwardly about fold line 13 so that adhesive areas 32 adhere to the inwardly folded flaps 22 and 24. The aforementioned steps provide the finished envelope illustrated in FIG. 2.

Photographic prints 42 can now be inserted in the envelope. The corners of the prints 42 are inserted through slots 34 which serve to retain the prints in aligned relationship with their respective apertures 18.

Closure flap 36 is then folded about fold line 12 in order to prepare the envelope for mailing. If the envelope is to be employed in an outer, or mailing, envelope, the adhesive in area 38 can be dispensed with if desired. However, if the envelope is to be employed as the outer envelope, the adhesive in area 38 is secured to the lower portion of the support panel 30 in an obvious manner. The adhesive employed in area 38 is of the type that can be separated from panel 30 without undue effort.

The front surface of print support panel 30, illustrated in FIG. 2, provides a convenient surface for a written message, which is obviously protected by closure flap 36 when the closure flap is in its closed position.

The person receiving the envelope often desires to mount the prints for viewing in an album or the like. Openings 41 are provided for this purpose. As was noted previously, these openings are spaced apart a distance identical with the spacing of the mounting rings employed in the particular photographic album intended for use with the particular envelope. All that is necessary in order to prepare the envelope for mounting within the album is for the recipient to tear closure flap 36 along line 40 and then discard the outer portion of the closure flap 36. The envelope is then easily inserted in an album by inserting the album retaining rings through openings 41.

If it is not desired to place the envelope in an album, the recipient merely folds the envelope about a transverse fold line 46. The envelope can then be used as a display support for the pictures on a table or desk in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7 or, alternatively, may be folded com pletely for wallet storage. Although FIG. 7 illustrates the envelope forwardly folded about fold line 46 so that the pictures face each other, it should be understood that the envelope could be folded backwardly so that the pictures face away from each other.

FIG. 3 illustrates another manner in which the envelope may be employed for displaying pictures. This method of displaying pictures is enabled by the provision of a fold line 47 inwardly of adhesive area 28 on closure flap 36. The adhesive area may be folded backward and, if desired, adhesively secured to the supporting surface. In some instances it will not be desirable to fold closure fiap 36 7 to provide an easel-type of Support for the remainder of the envelope.

It-Will be obvious from the above description that this invention provides a new and improved device for both mailing and displaying photographs and is far more convenient and economical than has been heretofore possible. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, the number of openings 41 employed will obviously vary with the particular number of rings employed in the album. The openings 41 can also vary in shape and need not be circular in shape. It is also obvious that transparent sheet 20 is not absolutely necessary and could be eliminated in situations Where economy is of prime importance. These possible alternatives are merely examples and other alternatives and modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mailing and display envelope comprising:

a rear panel containing at least one viewing aperture;

a support panel connected to said rear panel, so that said rear panel and said support panel form a receptacle capable of receiving photographic prints;

a closure flap means foldable about a fold line defining a boundary between said closure flap means and said rear panel with said closure flap means having attaching means adjacent one edge of said closure flap for attaching said edge of said closure flap to said support panel and also having means enabling mounting of said envelope in an album; V a tear line extending longitudinally of said closure flap between said fold line and said attaching means; and a plurality of openings disposed within the area of said closure flap between said tear line and said fold line with said'openings being positioned to receive sheet.

retaining rings of an album.

2. The envelope of claim 1 wherein the connection between said support panel and said rear panel comprises a longitudinal fold line and adhesive means extending trans versely of said panels adjacent the ends thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 35,861 7/1862 \Vilson 229-71 91,728 6/ 1869 Eastman 229-71 X 1,581,912 4/1926 Born 40-159 2,681,175 6/1954 David 22971 X 2,963,809 12/1960 Parker 40'-158 3,266,714 8/ 1966 Heuberger 2 992.8

DAVID M. BOCKENE'K, Primary Examiner. 

